[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7451]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 7451]]

   RECOGNITION OF THE INDEX SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THEIR INNOVATION IN 
                               EDUCATION

 Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I would like to acknowledge a very 
unique school district in a forested area of Washington State. The 
Index School District may be small in size but if measured by the 
creativity and dedication of its teachers, staff, and parents,


it would be one of the largest districts in Washington state.
  Index School District is one of the smallest in the state, with only 
35 students from preschool to 7th grade. Because of the district's size 
and location in a rural area, the district has constantly struggled to 
find funding that could boost student achievement. Index's 
Superintendent and Principal, Martin Boyle, took the funding challenges 
head on and has worked tirelessly to find money for Index's students 
through federal grants and a $298,208 bond levy that was passed in 
1998. After four years of hard work, the Index School District has 
become a model for other schools.
  Improving student reading levels was one of the first goals Boyle and 
his colleagues accomplished. The district hired a reading specialist 
and with the help of parents and local volunteers, reading levels have 
soared. Recently, Boyle started a new mentor reading program called, 
``Help One Student to Succeed.'' He hopes it will get parents involved 
in teaching their children to read, as well as a new way to promote and 
innovate reading skills, advancing student reading levels by an even 
greater margin.
  Index School District's includes 20 staff members and 5 board members 
who work tirelessly for their students and are constantly brainstorming 
new activities and new programs that will help their students learn. 
They have even started an after-school program for children who in the 
past, were sitting outside waiting for their parents' workday to end. 
Students now use this extra time to participate in fun activities that 
reinforce classroom curriculum.
  In addition, last summer, the district implemented the Index 
Elementary Summer School Program where students take part in hands on 
art and cultural activities. Students also visit art museums and 
theaters, as well as travel to other parts of the state for hiking and 
camping activities, giving children opportunities to learn and 
challenge their knowledge outside the classroom.
  Many students at Index also depend on their school as a home away 
from home, relying on the school for three meals a day. While a 
majority of students qualify for free and reduced lunches, the staff of 
Index understands the importance of meals for their students and have 
made it a priority to create and fund a food program which was 
recognized with a ``Children's Alliance Award.''
  The innovation and commitment of the Index School District's staff is 
truly inspiring. Clearly, the children are succeeding in the classroom 
and will be ready to take on any challenge. I think it is uplifting to 
hear that the power of a few can empower many, as the educator's of 
Index have done. Every local school district is unique. I hope that 
highlighting Index with my ``Innovation in Education'' Award will show 
others that wonderful things happen when you put children 
first.

                          ____________________